SANDUSKY, Ohio -- Opening the 2023 season at the Great Lakes Cross Over, the Kenyon College volleyball team needed just one game to claim the Owls' first win. Kenyon dispatched Mount Aloysius (0-1) in four sets, bouncing back from a 25-18 first-set loss with victories of 25-21, 25-19, and 25-17.

The Owls missed going 2-0 after falling 3-0 against hosting Heidelberg University later in the evening. Still, the young team and new coaching staff showed why there is reason for excitement with the comeback victory in game one.

Lindsey Abramson, Kenyon's lone upperclassmen, paced the Owls against Mount Aloysius. The senior notched a match-high 12 kills in 27 attempts, hitting .222 and adding three digs. The Owls improved their efficiency each set, hitting .143, .182, .222, and finishing up with a stellar .280 clip.

Maggie Wolf dished out a match-leading 20 assists while chipping in five kills, four digs, and two aces. Aura Barinas led Kenyon with eight digs and added six kills, tying Becca Gwynne for second on the team. Gwynne led the Owls with two blocks and hit an impressive .545 on 11 attempts.

Despite falling in straight sets against Heidelberg in their second match of the night, Kenyon showed some good signs. After falling 25-7 in the opening set, the Owls closed the gap and improved their play in each succeeding set. After amassing 15 set-two points, Kenyon led 17-14 and kept it close throughout a competitive 25-21 third-set defeat.

Joy Carstanjen led Kenyon with five points after three aces and two kills. Wolf led the way with six assists while tying for the team lead with three kills and ranking third with six digs. First-year Hannah Schwemm served up a team-leading three aces for the second straight match, adding four assists after eight in match one. Schwemm also tied Lauren Blakemore with a team-high eight digs, giving Blakemore 15 on the day.

First-year interim head coach Sharon Adams will have to get her team ready for a quick turnaround as the Owls are scheduled for two more games at the Great Lakes Cross Over tomorrow, September 2. Kenyon is set to face the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (0-2) at 10 a.m. and Capital University (1-0) at 2 p.m.